Updated: March 24, 2013
Every year, groups of Monarch butterflies migrate from the United States and Canada to a few unique areas in Mexico for a winter vacation in the warm forests there. What's most remarkable is about this journey is the fact that the life span of a Monarch butterfly is far less than a year -- and is normally only two to six weeks long.The butterflies that make the migration, however, live for around eight months, and since they only make the trip once, it means that there are no other Monarchs with them that know the way when they head for their winter vacation.
However, because the forests where the butterflies travel each year are being threatened by deforestation, the Monarchs ancient journey may soon come to an end -- along with a vital economic resource for the people that live in the area -- tourism.
Find out more about the Monarchs in the reports below, get an update on their situation now and a close look at the butterflies in the slideshow. You can also catch some behind the scenes moments from our shoot in Mexico in 2011.
Slideshow: Monarchs Up Close
Check out pics of the butterflies and a reforestation project that's an effort to preserve their habitat.
Video: Monarch Migration Drops
New threats to the species have led to fewer butterflies again this year.
Video: Saving the Monarchs
Steven Fabian investigates what's threatening one of the world's most beautiful mysteries.
Butterflies make partial comeback in Mexico
The number of monarch butterflies migrating from Canada and the U.S. to Mexico has increased this year, a hopeful sign following a worrying 75 percent drop in their numbers last year, experts reported Monday.
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